ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the historic $150 million expansion of New York State’s popular Tuition Assistance Program, which will now provide TAP to approximately 75,000 additional students who are pursuing their degree part-time.
Expanding Part-Time TAP to fully part-time learners creates pathways to an affordable education for individuals of all ages who are often balancing other responsibilities such as a family and work. Full-time TAP awards can be up to $5,665 annually for a full-time student; part-time TAP will be available on a pro-rated basis to eligible students taking six to 11 credits per semester with no full-time prerequisite.
“Higher education students not only hold the key for our state, but for their families,” Hochul said. “A degree changes more than just the life of its holder, it changes the lives of those all around them. Every person who calls New York home should have the opportunity to better themselves and invest in their education.”
Students enrolling in the Fall 2022 semester may apply for part-time TAP by filling out the federal FAFSA application (click here). Once submitted, New York State residents attending NYS campuses can link directly to the TAP application. For students who have already enrolled and submitted their FAFSA for the 2022-2023 academic year, TAP awards will automatically be adjusted based on the number of enrolled credits.
Eligibility for part-time TAP is consistent with full-time TAP awards, which includes residency and income requirements. TAP awards do not need to be repaid by any recipient.
New York State TAP is one of the nation’s largest need-based college financial aid grant programs. Overall, more than 6 million New Yorkers were awarded nearly $30 billion in tuition assistance awards through TAP. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 250,000 New Yorkers were awarded more than $700 million in tuition assistance awards.
As a result of state and federal financial support, more than 190,000 New York residents attend CUNY or SUNY tuition-free.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 August 2022 at 1:55 pm
MURRAY – The Murray Town Board was asked by a married couple on West Brockville Road to extend public water on West Brockville Road.
Steve and Stacey Keon said they rely on groundwater and get concerned during drought years whether they will have enough water.
They said they signed a petition in 1998 to be on a public waterline, but that infrastructure didn’t make it all the way down their road. Since then a new house has been built and there is interest in housing development at other open lots.
“We’re seeing growth down here,” Mrs. Keon told the board on Monday evening. “With a waterline it would benefit the neighbors.”
Town Councilman Paul Hendel said Murray should look at all the segments in the town that don’t have public waterlines and try to do a final water district to cover all the areas.
Highway Superintendent Dirk Lammes said nearly the entire town is covered.
The Keons said they would help build support for a new water district as the town identifies other unserved pockets of Murray.
In other action, the board renewed an agreement for an annual contribution of $1,500 to support the Murray-Holley Historical Society.
ALBION – Holy Family Parish in Albion has been recognized as a Gold Star Parish for exceeded its individual parish goal for giving during the Catholic Charities appeal for 2022, Catholic Charities of Buffalo announced.
There were 42 parishes in the Western New York Diocese recognized as Gold Star Parishes. Other nearby parishes with the distinction include All Saints Church in Lockport and St. Padre Pio Church in Oakfield.
The Appeal 2022 is in support of Catholic Charities and the Fund for the Faith. The fundraising campaign achieved its $9.5 million goal with a total of $9,591,923 in cash and pledges, the first time the annual campaign has reached its goal since 2018.
The annual Appeal helps fund 57 programs and services administered by Catholic Charities, along with several ministries that benefit all parishes through the Fund for the Faith. For more information on Catholic Charities’ programs and services, visit ccwny.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 August 2022 at 11:40 am
There will be a series of workshops in Genesee and Orleans counties for artists, municipalities and non-profit organizations to learn about grant funding.
The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO ART!) administers the Statewide Community Regrant Program.
GO ART! last year approved $107,800 in grants for artists, community organizations and municipalities for concerts and other cultural activities in 2022. GO ART! doesn’t know the total funding level available for 2023.
The local arts council said the SCR grants are designed to support and develop the capacity of individual artists, collectives, and small nonprofit organizations to develop high quality local arts projects and programming. The efforts should contribute to the Genesee and Orleans communities by providing opportunities for the public to experience and engage with the arts. Emphasis is placed on the quality and artistic merit of proposed projects and the depth and authenticity of audience experience, participation and engagement.
The Statewide Community Regrant Programs consists of three different grants: Reach, Ripple and Spark.
Reach – The Reach grants provide seed funding to individual artists, collectives and arts organizations for projects and activities that enable Genesee and Orleans communities to experience and engage with the performing, literary, media, and visual arts. Each year the program supports over arts projects, including concerts, performances, public art, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, workshops, readings, and more.
Ripple – The GO ART! Individual Artist Commission (Ripple Grant) supports local, artist-initiated activity, and highlights the role of artists as important members of the community. The Ripple funding is for artistic projects with outstanding artistic merit that work within a community setting.
Spark – The Arts Education Program (Spark grant) supports arts education projects for youth and/or senior learners. Emphasis is placed on the depth and quality of the creative process through which participants learn through or about the arts. Projects must focus on the exploration of art and the artistic process. Funds can support arts education projects that take place in-school during the school day and/or in after-school and community-based settings for youth and/or senior learners and must be carried out in partnership with a public school or a community-based organization.
Funding amounts differ from program to program, but the maximum allowable project request from each applicant is $5,000. Applicants may submit up to three separate project requests in any grant cycle, with the total of all requests not to exceed $5,000.
Applications will be accepted from Sept. 15 to Nov. 1.
Who is Eligible?
Nonprofit organizations, NYS incorporated nonprofits, agencies of local government (not New York State agencies)
Individual artists, groups or collectives, unincorporated entities must have a fiscal sponsor or community partner (see specific program guidelines)
All applicants must be over the age of 18 and have a permanent address in the county in which the programming will take place.
Selection Process: Awards are based on a competitive, transparent peer panel review process. A panel composed of artists, arts administrators, and community leaders (who work and/or reside in Genesee or Orleans) review each project on the basis of its own merits and against others in the application pool. Awards are based on panel recommendations at the completion of the review process. Limited funds are available, and priority is given to applications that meet the specific program criteria published within SCR guidelines.
Schedule of upcoming SCR Grant Workshops
All potential applicants are required to attend a grant workshop. Registration is required at least two days prior to the scheduled workshop.
Saturday, 8/27 @ 10 a.m. GO ART! 201 E Main St., Batavia
Saturday, 9/3 @ 10 a.m., Virtual (zoom link will be provided upon registration)
Saturday, 9/17 @ 10 a.m., Haxton Memorial Library, 3 N Pearl St., Oakfield
Monday 9/19 @ 6 p.m., Virtual (zoom link will be provided upon registration)
Tuesday, 9/20 @ 5 p.m., Byron-Bergen Public Library, 13 S Lake St., Bergen
Saturday, 9/24 @ 5 p.m., Yates Community Library, 15 N Main St., Lyndonville
For more information on the application process, to register for a workshop, to apply, or nominate a panelist, please visit www.goart.org/grants. For any questions about the program, contact the SCR Program Coordinator, Mary Jo Whitman, at mjwhitman@goart.org.
Students will be introduced to trades, other local job opportunities
Press Release, Genesee County Economic Development Center
BATAVIA – Workforce, business, education and economic development officials from across the GLOW region unveiled details for the 4th Annual Glow With Your Hands career exploration festival which will take place at the Genesee County Fairground on Sept. 27.
They were joined by New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals Executive Director Melinda Mack on Wednesday at the site of the construction of LandPro Equipment’s 50,000-square-foot regional training facility.
The group associated with the 2022 GLOW With Your Hands Exposition anticipate over 1,000 students will be in attendance from school districts across the GLOW region. More than 45 vendors have already committed to participate featuring hands-on activities and simulations in the advanced manufacturing, agriculture, food production, skilled trades sectors as well as the various branches of the military.
“By collaborating with local businesses to learn what skills are needed for their future workforce we in turn can help the future pipeline of workers attain those skills through programs and initiatives like GLOW With Your Hands,” said Jay Lazarony, GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair. “There is an immediate need for the next generation of skilled workers, and we are all working together to meet this demand.”
“The GLOW region has become a hub for workforce development because of events such as GLOW With Your Hands which provides hands-on experiences in growing and emerging fields that can lead to good paying career opportunities without students having to incur the cost of a college education,” said Chris Suozzi, GLOW With Your Hands co-chair.
Mack said the efforts of GLOW With Your Hands represent the impact that workforce development partnerships are having for the next generation of talent.
“GLOW With Your Hands is a model of how regional stakeholders are collaborating on workforce development initiatives that provide industries across many sectors with a pipeline of prospective skilled workers,” said Mack. “We are very passionate about workforce development, it is our goal to provide voice, knowledge, and accelerating progress in this field through events and initiatives like GLOW With Your Hands.”
NYATEP is comprised of New York State’s 33 local workforce development boards who oversee and coordinate over $300M of federal workforce funding, the State and City community college systems, literacy providers, community-based organizations, local governments, labor unions, economic development agencies, and career and technical education providers, among others.
Hosting the kick-off at an active construction site showcased the growing opportunities for skilled trades professionals. Officials thanked LandPro Equipment for being a founding sponsor and exhibitor to GLOW With Your Hands.
“Those of us involved in workforce development hear the same message from local manufacturers and businesses all the time about the critical need for a skilled workforce,” said Angela Grouse, GLOW With Your Hands school coordinator. “The resounding participation of manufacturers and businesses demonstrates the collaboration between the private and public sectors is working in filling this need.”
“We could not ask for a better time for our kickoff event as we continue with the construction of our 50,000 sq. ft. regional training center with sales, service, and training facilities,” said Molly Haungs, Marketing Manager, LandPro. “In order to repair and maintain a large portfolio of John Deere Equipment we need workers with a specific set of skills because these machines use highly sophisticated electronics and other high-end controls. We are finding that GLOW With Your Hands is truly making a difference and again, we are very pleased to once again be a part of this great initiative.”
YATES – On Friday, August 19th, the Town of Yates will celebrate its bicentennial with the second of its three fairs, dubbed by committee coordinator Joanne Suhr as, “A Street Fair.”
The event will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Main Street in Lyndonville between Maple and Eagle Streets. There is no charge for admission.
After the “Family Fair” in July featuring live music from a Lyndonville school chorus, a church choir comprised of some of the churches in town, and a barbershop quartet, this second of three events should have the feel of a street dance.
Although thru traffic – especially all trucks – will be diverted around downtown Lyndonville, local traffic and people attending the fair will be allowed to park closer to the event. Main Street will be closed between Maple and Eagle, and the Town will have food trucks and tables and chairs on the street.
Several vendors will be set-up in the parking lot behind the Town Hall, and of course the Friday evening farmer’s market will be running at the old Pennysaver.
From 5 to 7 p.m., there will be a DJ and music in front of the Town Hall, and then from 7 to 9 p.m., the Who Dats will be performing live at that same location.
There will be a Civil War encampment in Patterson Park, southwest of the Town Hall parking lot along the reservoir, which will include several cannon fire demonstrations during the evening.
At 6 p.m., Catherine Cooper, the Orleans County Historian, will guide a cemetery tour at Lynhaven Cemetery on Housel Avenue. At 7 p.m., Steve Goodrich, American Legion Lyndonville Post Commander, will lead a cemetery tour. Both tours will begin at the flag pole in the cemetery.
Joanne Suhr is hoping that everyone comes out for the fun gathering, “What better way is there to celebrate the Town’s bicentennial than to have a street party?!”
As a reminder, please mark your calendars for the “Grand Finale Lake Fair” on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Town Park.
For more information go to the Town of Yates website: townofyates.org, or call Town Supervisor Jim Simon, 716-946-2075.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 August 2022 at 7:36 am
Money will help make up for cancelled fundraisers during Covid pandemic
RIDGEWAY – The Ridgeway Town Board has approved $60,000 in the town’s allotment of American Rescue Plan Act funds to go to the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company.
Town Supervisor Brian Napoli said the federal money will help make up for the cancelled fundraisers during the Covid pandemic.
“This money will help support and equip the department,” Napoli said. “We are allowed to do this as they are a non-profit organization that has been affected by the Covid shutdown.”
The Town Board voted on Monday to approve $60,000 for the fire company.
Napoli said Ridgeway has been awarded $316,000 in ARPA funding. The board so far has approved $200,000 in ARPA towards Water District No. 15, and $25,000 towards internet/broadband expansion.
“Of the remaining $31,000, we are looking at other projects, but have not decided on them,” Napoli said.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 18 August 2022 at 6:53 am
MEDINA – Supportive Care of Orleans/Hospice is bringing back a popular fundraiser, which had previously taken place for 10 years before Covid.
A Toast to Hospice is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery on Route 104 in Medina.
A maximum of 300 tickets will be sold at $30 per ticket. This includes admission to the event, a complimentary wine glass, one glass of wine, food and live music. In addition, names will be drawn every half hour to win a bottle of wine.
“Hospice is fortunate to have the support of many small businesses and individuals in the community,” according to Maggie Stewart, development coordinator. “We are so grateful and appreciative of our community members and businesses for their outgoing support, generosity and commitment of Support Care of Orleans. We can’t wait to celebrate on a beautiful night with all our friends across Orleans County.”
There will also be a basket raffle and silent auction at the event.
Anyone with questions may contact Tammy Chmylak, administrative assistant, at tchmylak@scorleans.org; Stewart at mstewart@scorleans.org; or by calling (585) 589-0809 and asking for Tammy or Maggie.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 August 2022 at 9:17 pm
Registration needs to be done by Aug. 26
ALBION – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee will conduct a school supply giveaway at the Main Street Thrift Store, 131 South Main St., Albion.
The giveaway takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 31 and registration must be done by Aug. 26. Space is limited and supplies will be given out first come, first served.
To register parents can call Community Action at (585) 589-5605 and ask for Linda or e-mail ltaylor@caoginc.org.
No school supplies will be given out on day of pick up to anyone who has not registered.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 August 2022 at 5:43 pm
BARRE – Richard Bannister fought in the Vietnam War more than a half century ago with the US Army. He hoped the world would never see such destruction and loss of life again.
Richard Bannister has been creating sculptures for more than 30 years. He said the “teardrop” sculpture just flowed out of him as he grieved the damage and loss of life after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 and has continued an onslaught for nearly six months.
But Bannister watched the TV in horror on Feb. 24 when Russia invaded Ukraine. The Russian attacks haven’t stopped with unrelenting missile strikes that have caused more than $100 billion in damage to the Ukraine, displacing about 8 million Ukrainians.
“When I saw that it tore my heart out,” Bannister said today outside his home on Maple Avenue. “It’s 2022. This isn’t 1922 or 1822. What we’re seeing is evil.”
Bannister is a long-time sculptor, making creations out of steel, wood, marble and bronze. His most famous local work may be the Big Apple in Medina, a 20-foot-high sculpture of an apple by the Erie Canal near the Glenwood Avenue bridge.
Bannister has created a new 8-foot-high metal sculpture he calls “Ukrainian Tears.” He worked on it for two weeks, which he said is fast for a larger-scale piece. He said the metal that he bent and shaped fit together perfectly with less struggle than usual. The sculpture resembles a teardrop. Sometimes he works on a piece for more than a year.
“This just came from my soul,” he said about the artwork.
He painted it in the Ukraine national colors of gold and blue. On Saturday he placed the 500-pound sculpture by the road near his driveway on maple Avenue, just west of the Eagle Harbor Road intersection.
Bannister expects the sculpture will stay in Barre for a couple weeks. He would like it to have a bigger audience, perhaps at the Ukrainian cultural centers in Buffalo or Rochester.
Bannister earns his living running a peach thinning business where he travels to 17 states. But art and sculptures remain a passion.
He wants to create at least one outdoor piece a year to add to his property with the goal of having an art park at the site. Right now people driving by can see a 20-foot0high cactus and a 4-foot-high green apple that he made.
“As people go by and see them it changes their thought patterns,” Bannister said. “I’m just trying to activate their brain.”
Bannister said he hopes people driving will take note of the sculptor and reflect on the war.
Richard Bannister also has sculptures of a 20-foot-high cactus and 4-foot high apple on his wooded property. He would like to add outdoor sculptures to the site each year and create an art park.
Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt
ALBANY – Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt today sent a letter to Governor Hochul urging her administration to update the state’s guidance and emergency regulations to reflect recent changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“As you may know, the CDC recently updated its guidance to better reflect the progress made after understanding and combating the Covid-19 virus,” Ortt wrote. “Most notably, the CDC now recommends that those exposed to Covid-19 are no longer required to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, the CDC has also removed prior recommendations for social distancing and test-to-stay procedures in K through 12 schools and early childhood programs. Per the CDC, the new guidelines ‘help us to move to a point where Covid-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives.’”
Ortt also pushed the governor to release Covid-19 guidelines in line with the CDC changes, without further delay as the new school year rapidly approaches and parents and school administrators have yet to receive guidelines for schools.
The governor recently extended her Covid-19 state of emergency this week, which has been in effect for nearly a full year.
“I strongly urge you to adopt the shift in approach taken by the CDC and update state guidance and emergency regulations to reflect its change in strategy in general,” Ortt said. “New Yorkers have suffered under this pandemic for over two years, and it is long overdue that our policies focus on protecting the most vulnerable from serious illness rather than broad restrictions on the public.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) is announcing there are still several openings available to take part in his Patriot Trip to Washington, D.C. from Sept. 15 to 18.
Veterans and their family members will be hosted on a tour throughout the area to visit historical sites and landmarks constructed to pay tribute to their service and the nation they’ve fought for. This year’s trip will feature stops at war memorials and other notable locations, including the Arlington National Cemetery, and the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War memorials, with a stop in Gettysburg.
“Some of the most meaningful memories of my lifetime come from experiences I’ve had on our Patriot Trips witnessing heroes who’ve risked their lives to defend our country get to see the monuments built to honor their bravery and sacrifices,” Hawley said. “After having to pause the tour due to the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, I am very excited to begin our trips once more and encourage all interested to look into joining us on this incredibly meaningful journey.”
Participation in the trip is open to all military veterans and their family members and will cost between $425 to $500 per person. Those interested in participating in this year’s trip are encouraged to reach out to Assemblyman Hawley’s district office at 585-589-5780 for more details.
Hawley encourages those interested, or who know someone who might be interested but who may need financial assistance, to contact their local veterans’ services agency. They may be able to provide some assistance, so Hawley encourages those interested to reach out to their county’s agency using the numbers below:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 August 2022 at 12:26 pm
ALBION – Two people pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court today after being charged with assault.
Brian Bilby, 34, of Albion pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and second-degree attempted burglary. He accepted a plea deal to reduced charges. He could face up to 5 years in prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 26.
Bilby admitted in court today that he entered someone’s apartment on West Bank Street in Albion on May 19 and struck a man who was in a bed with either a broomstick or a rod from a shower.
District Attorney Joe Cardone said Bilby forced the door open in the apartment. Bilby lived in another apartment in the same building.
Cardone said it was an “unprovoked attack” that left the victim in severe pain from his injuries.
Bilby is currently in the county jail on $10,000 cash bail or $25,000 bond.
In another case, Deante Johnson, 19, of Medina pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree assault.
He was originally charged with first-degree assault, but that charge was reduced to second-degree assault because the victim did not sustain life-threatening injuries as initially feared.
Johnson stabbed a man who was in a verbal altercation with Johnson’s mother. The man was wounded in his lower abdomen and was bleeding.
Johnson told County Court Judge Sanford Church that the man who was stabbed put his hands on Johnson, and Johnson felt his life was in danger.
Cardone, the DA, said the other man put his hands on Johnson after Johnson threatened him.
“He wasn’t justified in using a knife,” Cardone said in court today.
As part of the plea agreement, Johnson could face a split sentence with a maximum of six months in the county jail and five years on probation.
Church told Johnson if he commits a crime while on probation he could then face time in state prison.
Johnson will be sentenced on Oct. 26.
He is currently in the county jail on $10,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.
Lower-cost prescription drugs, reduced energy costs will help the state, senator says
Press Release, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
Charles Schumer
With the historic Inflation Reduction Act now signed into law, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer outlined the historic bill that will deliver the largest investment in fighting the climate crisis, while lowering prescription drug costs and utility bills, and fighting inflation, amongst so much more.
Schumer broke down how this historic deal will touch every corner of New York, helping to lower costs for families who need it most, creating thousands of new clean energy jobs, including by bringing manufacturing back to America, all while reducing the deficit by $300 billion.
Schumer said this bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity with New York primed to reap the rewards with thousands of new, good paying manufacturing and clean energy jobs powering the future of American energy independence, other investments in fighting the climate crisis, and lower healthcare costs for over 3.7 million seniors in New York on Medicare.
“The Inflation Reduction Act will endure as one of the defining legislative feats of the twenty-first century: our bill lowers costs, creates millions of good-paying jobs, and is the boldest climate package in US history—and New York State and New Yorkers are primed to reap the harvest of these investments and costs savings,” Schumer said.
Specifically, Schumer highlighted that the bill includes:
Lowering The Cost Of Healthcare
These provisions include:
Empowering Medicare to begin negotiating directly for the price of prescription drugs, directly lowering what people pay for those drugs, including for conditions like cancer, COPD, asthma, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and rheumatoid arthritis. Schumer explained that currently, our drug pricing system heavily favors corporations, by allowing drug companies and middlemen to put profit over patients. The new negotiation policy that just passed within this bill will ensure that the over 3.7 million New Yorkers on Medicare get the best deal possible on high-priced drugs and pay cost-sharing for those drugs based on the Medicare negotiated price.
Cap Medicare patients’ out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 per year, protecting nearly 75,000 New Yorkers every single year from exorbitant drug costs if they get a major diagnosis, like cancer, for the drugs they need to live.
Ensures that Medicare patients pay no more than $35 per month for insulin. One in every three Medicare beneficiaries has diabetes, and over 3.3 million Medicare beneficiaries use one or more of the common forms of insulin
Requires drug companies to rebate back to Medicare any price increases greater than inflation. Schumer said that the pharmaceutical industry should not be able to arbitrarily increase prices on lifesaving drugs that’s costs are not changing year-to-year. Now drug companies will be required to rebate back the difference to Medicare if they raise prices higher than inflation
Expands premium and co-pay assistance on prescription drugs for low-income individuals. Currently, the low-income subsidy program (LIS) under Medicare Part D is fully available to all seniors earning less than 135% of the federal poverty level, and partially available to seniors earning less than 150% of the federal policy level. The bill eliminates the partial subsidy status, giving those seniors the full low-income subsidy under Medicare Part D.
Puts more financial responsibility on insurance and drug companies to keep prices down. Patients are paying exorbitantly high prices while insurers and manufacturers rake in huge profits and negotiate secret discounts and agreements. Experts agree that the current Medicare Part D framework lets both insurers and drug companies off the hook for high drug prices – in fact, the system incentivizes higher drug prices by allowing insurers to pay less when drug prices go up. The bill changes that dynamic by incentivizing both manufacturers and insurers to keep drug prices down – it puts them on the hook for higher drug prices and spending to tamp down artificially high prices jointly set by big pharma and pharmacy benefit managers.
Free vaccines for seniors. Seniors are the only population for which vaccines were not already free and this bill finally corrects this by making all vaccines free in Medicare.
Stabilizes Part D premiums for seniors in Medicare by holding annual premium growth to existing levels so that insurers and manufacturers can’t pass their new financial responsibilities on to seniors.
Extends higher premium assistance for tens of thousands of lower and middle class NY families.
Investing In Clean Energy, Transportation, Buildings, and Manufacturing Jobs To Fight The Climate Crisis
These provisions include:
Over $160 billion in estimated value for new and expanded clean electricity tax credits will incentivize the transition to a cleaner power supply, driven by wind, solar, and batteries, deploying gigawatts of clean power across New York. This is further bolstered by about $25 billion in loans, grants, and other forms of financial assistance to build a cleaner grid and power sector across the country.
An estimated $43 billion in production tax credits to accelerate U.S. manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, clean hydrogen, and critical minerals processing. Plus, $10 billion in investment tax credits to build clean technology manufacturing facilities, like facilities that make electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels. Green hydrogen companies in the North Country; and Plug Power in the Finger Lakes, Western New York’s STAMP, and the Capital Region, and much more.
Billions in loans and grants to build new clean vehicle manufacturing facilities and retool existing auto manufacturing facilities to manufacture clean vehicles across the country, including possibly in places like Western New York.
More than $8 billion for clean fuel production, from biofuels to sustainable aviation fuel.
Over $40 billion in tax credits to clean up America’s buildings – from commercial high-rises to residential homes and multifamily houses. This is driven even further with more than $10 billion in grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance to build cleaner buildings and cleanup the buildings we already have.
$2 billion for National Labs to accelerate breakthrough energy research. This funding will directly help New York entities like the Brookhaven National Lab to continue its groundbreaking research for the Department of Energy, and will keep major projects like the construction of the multi-billion dollar Electron Ion Collider on schedule, maintaining hundreds of jobs on Long Island.
Saving New Yorker’s Money On Energy Costs, Like Appliances, Electricity, RX costs & More
These provisions include:
Two new clean vehicle tax credits – one for new vehicles and one for used – will bring down the upfront cost of clean vehicles, allowing more New Yorkers to save money by avoiding the pump all together, and a more targeted clean vehicle infrastructure tax credit will deploy charging and refueling stations in rural and low income communities and at home. Together, these are estimated to provide about $10 billion in benefit to Americans.
A revamped energy efficiency tax credit will help cover the upfront cost of energy efficiency and electrification upgrades around the house, saving New Yorkers money month-after-month and year-after-year, and estimated to provide more than $12 billion in benefits.
An expanded tax credit will bring down the cost of putting solar on your roof and a battery backup system in your house, making New Yorkers more energy independent, all while lowering our monthly bills. This is estimated to provide more than $22 billion in value.
$9 billion in new federal funding for state-run home efficiency programs, with an emphasis on helping low- and moderate-income New Yorkers, will ensure those most sensitive to changing energy prices are better protected.
A new $1 billion funding stream focused on bolstering resilience, and energy and water efficiency for affordable housing across New York helps those who need it most.
$27 billion in landmark funding for Green Banks across the country, including the NY Green Bank, will deploy massive amounts of clean building technologies, distributed clean electricity, and clean vehicle infrastructure across the state, with an emphasis on disadvantaged communities.
Cleaning Up New York & Protecting The Environment
These provisions include:
Two new environmental justice block grants that will provide funding to reconnect communities, including $3 billion for Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants and $3 billion for Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants, to help address the disproportionate environmental and public health harms related to pollution and climate change.
$1.5 billion investment nationwide to plant trees, establish community and urban forests, and expand green spaces in cities, which combats climate change and provides significant community benefits by increasing recreation opportunities, cooling cities, lowering electric bills, and reducing heat-related death and illness.
$1 billion for clean buses, garbage trucks, and transit buses that can be deployed across the state, with an emphasis on deploying these vehicles in disadvantaged communities. This will also help boost New York manufacturers like Plattsburgh’s Nova Bus that makes clean electric buses.
Reinstating the Superfund tax, so that Superfund sites across New York have a guaranteed source of funding, paid for by the companies responsible for the pollution, that raises an estimated $11 billion over the next 10 years.
$3 billion for grants to reduce pollution at ports, like the Port of New York and New Jersey, to combat poor air quality in nearby communities, as well as targeted funding for the vehicles moving goods to and from New York’s ports.
$2.6 billion to conserve, restore, and protect marine and coastal habitats, including funding for marine mammals and fisheries stock assessments.
Affordable Care Act
Extends higher premium assistance for tens of thousands of lower and middle class NY families
Making Billion Dollar Corporations Pay Their Fair Share
These provisions include:
A 15% corporate minimum tax ensuring that the 200 or so large companies who strategically game the tax system to pay little or no federal corporate income taxes will be required to pay their fair share.
A 1% tax on stock buybacks, to incentivize companies to invest in their workforce and development, rather than prioritizing shareholder stock value. This provision imposes a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks over $1 million, targeting wealthy corporations who put Wall Street above Main Street.
Funding the Internal Revenue Service to go after tax cheats, which the IRS hasn’t had the resources to tackle for years. Now, the IRS will be able to ensure that wealthy tax dodgers won’t be able to rip off the American people any longer. The law includes a stipulation ensuring that additional tax enforcement should not be targeted at individuals earning $400,000 or less.
There will be a series of workshops in Genesee and Orleans counties for artists, municipalities and non-profit organizations to learn about grant funding.
